New HD TV Replacing My Monitor
I recently lost my computer monitor. Well, I didn’t really lose it, it died. I guess leaving it on 24/7 isn’t “green” or good for the ‘Ol monitor either. The monitor was a Hewlett Packard 22 inch flat wide screen LCD HDMI monitor which I thought was pretty nice. She was only approximately two and a half years old when she passed away. To lessen my environmental impact, I utilized e-waste recycling to get rid of the old thing! When shopping for a new replacement, here is what I found.
Computer monitors ain’t as cheap as I thought they would be …
First of all, monitors over 20″ aren’t much cheaper than they were two years ago. Not willing to accept anything less than what I had, I found that the best prices on 23″ monitors(22″ monitors are now called 23″”) ran from a very cheap looking, no frills, Samsung at $209 to some other not as cheap looking brands up to $399. The comparable HP replacement monitor is $269 to $299 depending on where you find it. Most common comparable replacements I found to be at about $249 -$329.
Help at Sam’s Club
As I was about to make my choice, I met a very helpful and knowledgeable guy at Sam’s Club. He happened to be a manager and told me about another option. How about replacing your monitor with a HDTV? Not only can it be set up as a monitor, but it can also be used as a HD television by simply toggling back and forth. Set up is as simple as it comes. Nothing complicated at all… and LCD flat screen HDTVs are a whole lot cheaper than they were two years ago. With a wide selection of HD flat screen TVs at Sam’s Club and at Best Buy, I was able to find a larger 32 inch screen HDTV set for less than $60 more than the 23inch monitor I was about to buy. I found a Visio 32 inch … yes, “Thirty-two” inch LCD HDTV for $338.. They also had a Visio 26″ for only $328, but for ten bucks I couldn’t pass on six inches more. My wife even agreed that was a good deal! (OK, get your head out of the gutter!) I chose the 32 inch Visio. To see it (click here)
Set-up is simple:
- Make sure the TV you select has a RGB computer connection(click here) … almost all I looked at did have it, but I found one that didn’t.
- Using the existing VGA/RGB cable(click here) from your old monitor, connect it from your computer VGA(click here) to the back of the TV in the RGB(click here) plug in.
- Use a common 1/8th inch (3.5mm) audio cord from the external speaker jack(click here) or the headset jack on your computer tower or lap top.
- Hook up your cable on antenna to the TV like you normally would any TV.
- You may need to go into the computer settings to adjust the screen size if it doesn’t auto-adjust. Simple.
Consumer Boomer On the TV Monitor
DONE!
My Review
Five Stars!!! Works perfectly and it is UNBELIEVABLE, AWESOME, SWEET, or what ever they call it now. It was a “Best Buy” at “Sam’s Club”
Advantages:
- It’s Bigger!
- It’s Better!
- It is more versatile!
- It is easy to set-up and use!
- I have a two year old grandson that we care for in the day time that watches all the kid shows including: Imagination Movers, Thomas the Train, Tom and Jerry, Sesame Street, and I don’t have to share it with him or wait for him to take his afternoon nap to watch Fox News, and CNBC again.
- I can check on a ball game while my wife watches “Dancing With The Stars” , “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Brother’s and Sisters”, “Private Practice”, or “The Hills”.
- I can toggle back and forth from Computer to TV when working on “Consumer Boomer.com“
- If your computer crashes or frustrates you to the point you don’t want it around anymore you aren’t stuck with a worthless, obsolete monitor … you still have a good TV.
Disadvantages:
None I can think of
I LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Next step … Hook the computer up to my 55″ big screen. Add a cordless keyboard and mouse. Sit on the couch. Watch TV. Play on the computer. Drink beer without having to get up. Papa B!